H.R. 4784 — Introduced in House

I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4784 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 11, 2018Ms. Maxine Waters of California (for herself, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms. Norton, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Garamendi, Ms. Velázquez, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mrs. Demings, Mr. Hastings, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Serrano, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Meeks, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Mr. Ellison, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Ms. Lee, Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Espaillat, Ms. Barragán, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Payne, Mr. Lowenthal, and Mr. Gonzalez of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to provide funding for American Health Benefit Exchanges navigator programs and outreach and promotional activities. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Affordable Care Act Outreach for the Uninsured, Transformative Recruitment, and Enrollment Action for Compassionate Healthcare Act of 2018 or the ACA OUTREACH Act. 2. Funding American Health Benefit Exchanges navigator programs and outreach and promotional activities (a) Funding for navigator program Section 1311(i) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18031(i)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (7) Appropriations Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2021 for navigator programs under this subsection. . (b) Federal Exchanges outreach and promotional activities Section 1321(c) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18041(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) Outreach and promotional activities (A) In general In the case of an Exchange established or operated by the Secretary pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary may carry out outreach and promotional activities as necessary and appropriate for the successful operation of such Exchange, including for purposes of informing potential enrollees in qualified health plans offered through the Exchange of the availability of coverage under such plans and financial assistance for coverage under such plans. (B) Diverse constituencies The Secretary shall carry out any outreach and promotional activities under this paragraph in a manner that reaches diverse constituencies, including minority, rural, and underserved communities; people with disabilities; young adults; and individuals who are likely to be uninsured. (C) Funding Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2021 to carry out this paragraph. . (c) State grants for State-Run Exchanges outreach and promotional activities Section 1311 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18031) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (l) State-Run Exchanges outreach and promotional activities (1) In general The Secretary shall carry out a grant program under which the Secretary awards grants to States that are electing States under section 1321(b) that have established Exchanges. Each such grant awarded to such a State that has established an Exchange shall be used by such Exchange for purposes of outreach and promotional activities as necessary and appropriate for the successful operation of the Exchange, including for purposes of informing potential enrollees in qualified health plans offered through the Exchange of the availability of coverage under such plans and financial assistance for coverage under such plans. (2) Eligibility (A) Application To be eligible for a grant under paragraph (1), a State described in such paragraph shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as specified by the Secretary. In establishing the process for States to apply for such grants, the Secretary shall ensure that applications are processed in a timely manner. (B) Diverse constituencies To be eligible for a grant under paragraph (1), a State described in such paragraph shall provide such assurances as are required by the Secretary to ensure that the Exchange established by such State carries out outreach and promotional activities under such grant in a manner that reaches diverse constituencies, including minority, rural, and underserved communities; people with disabilities; young adults; and individuals who are likely to be uninsured. (3) Funding Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2021 to carry out this subsection. .